Man faces 6 charges in sex-assault case

PORTSMOUTH — A drifter with a long local history of panhandling was arrested Monday on charges alleging he assaulted, imprisoned and attempted to rape a woman.

Elizabeth Dinan

PORTSMOUTH — A drifter with a long local history of panhandling was arrested Monday on charges alleging he assaulted, imprisoned and attempted to rape a woman.

Capt. Corey MacDonald said a caller phoned police to check on the alleged victim's well-being, and when two officers arrived at a specified State Street apartment, "they interrupted an attempted rape."

Arrested at the scene was Steven Morin, 45, with no permanent address, on six charges, MacDonald said. Morin is being held on $25,000 cash bail on four counts of attempted aggravated felonious sexual assault, a charge alleging false imprisonment and a charge of simple assault.

The police captain said Morin assaulted the woman and was preventing her from leaving the apartment, while also attempting to rape her. He was scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday.

Morin has been cited by local police multiple times for panhandling and, police allege, once told an officer he'd use one of the summonses as toilet paper. MacDonald said Morin's criminal history also includes convictions for being a fugitive from justice and breach of bail conditions.

Those with any information about the sexual assault case are asked to call officer Michael Kotsonis of the Portsmouth Police Department. Anonymous tips can be made by calling Seacoast Crime Stoppers at 431-1199 or going online at www.seacoastcrimestoppers.org.

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